Julian Kenny
Encyclopedia
Julian Stanley "Jake" Kenny (January 27, 1930 – August 9, 2011) was a Trinidadian
zoologist
, columnist
, author) and Professor
of Zoology at the St. Augustine
Campus of the University of the West Indies
and an Independent Senator
in the fifth (1995–2000) and sixth (2001) Parliaments
. He is best known for his work on freshwater fish
es and anurans
, and for his contribution to the conservation movement
in Trinidad and Tobago.
Kenny was born in Woodbrook, Port of Spain
, Trinidad and Tobago
,and was educated at Belmont Intermediate School and then at St Mary's
. After completing Grade 13 at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Canada, he received a Bachelor of Arts
from the University of Toronto
. After working at a fisheries laboratory in Canada, Kenny returned to Trinidad where he worked as a scientific officer in what would later become the Fisheries Division. After working there for nine years, he entered Birbeck College
, University of London
, where he obtained a PhD
. After graduating he joined the Department of Biological Sciences at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies. After retiring from the department, Kenny served as Chairman of the Trustees of the Guardian Life Wildlife Fund. Between 1995 and 2001 he served as an Independent Senator.
He authored several books about Trinidad and Tobago's ecology, first with Macmillan and then with Media and Editorial Projects Limited
' book imprint, Prospect Press. His titles include:
Kenny also wrote a column for the Trinidad and Tobago Express
newspaper. He died in Port of Spain, aged 81.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
zoologist
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
, author) and Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Zoology at the St. Augustine
Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
St. Augustine, a town on the East-West Corridor of Trinidad and Tobago, is the site of one of the four campuses of the University of the West Indies. It is located east of Curepe and west of Tunapuna....
Campus of the University of the West Indies
University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
and an Independent Senator
Senate of Trinidad and Tobago
The Senate of Trinidad and Tobago is the appointed Upper House of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The Senate sits in the Red House in Port of Spain...
in the fifth (1995–2000) and sixth (2001) Parliaments
Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Parliament is bicameral. It consists of the elected House of Representatives, which has 43 members elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies, and the Senate which has 31...
. He is best known for his work on freshwater fish
Freshwater fish
Freshwater fish are fish that spend some or all of their lives in freshwater, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05%. These environments differ from marine conditions in many ways, the most obvious being the difference in levels of salinity...
es and anurans
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
, and for his contribution to the conservation movement
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
in Trinidad and Tobago.
Kenny was born in Woodbrook, Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
, Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
,and was educated at Belmont Intermediate School and then at St Mary's
Saint Mary's College, Trinidad and Tobago
Saint Mary's College is a government-assisted Catholic secondary school situated on Frederick Street in the heart of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The school was established in 1863 with only a handful of students but enrollment today is close to 1200. The school's motto 'Virtus et Scientia'...
. After completing Grade 13 at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Canada, he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. After working at a fisheries laboratory in Canada, Kenny returned to Trinidad where he worked as a scientific officer in what would later become the Fisheries Division. After working there for nine years, he entered Birbeck College
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, where he obtained a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
. After graduating he joined the Department of Biological Sciences at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies. After retiring from the department, Kenny served as Chairman of the Trustees of the Guardian Life Wildlife Fund. Between 1995 and 2001 he served as an Independent Senator.
He authored several books about Trinidad and Tobago's ecology, first with Macmillan and then with Media and Editorial Projects Limited
Media and Editorial Projects Limited
Media and Editorial Projects Limited is a private publishing company based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.The company was established in 1991 by Jeremy Taylor and Joanne Mendes...
' book imprint, Prospect Press. His titles include:
- Native Orchids of the Eastern Caribbean (Caribbean Pocket Natural History Series) (1998, ISBN 9780333473306)
- Views from the Ridge (2008 reprint, ISBN 9769505706)
- Flowers of Trinidad & Tobago (2006, ISBN 9769505781)
- Orchids of Trinidad & Tobago (2008, ISBN 9789769508248)
- A Naturalist's Notes: the Biological Diversity of Trinidad & Tobago (2008, ISBN 9789769508231)
Kenny also wrote a column for the Trinidad and Tobago Express
Trinidad and Tobago Express
The Trinidad and Tobago Express is one of three daily newspapers in Trinidad and Tobago. The Express is published by the Caribbean Communications Network and is headquartered on Independence Square in Port of Spain. The newspaper commenced operations on June 6, 1967...
newspaper. He died in Port of Spain, aged 81.